Southland Racing Club president Sean Bellew, whose club has not applied for pokie money for the past six years, said he understood how people would view giving grants from pokies to racing as "giving pork to pigs".

The community trust grants website says sport is the primary focus for its funding but it also provides funds for charitable purposes such as rescue and lifesaving services, education, health, the arts, cultural and community groups. The funds come from trust operators who run its gaming machines in their hotels, bars and clubs.

Other pokie money distributed throughout the region, including Invercargill, comes from different trusts such as the Invercargill Licensing Trust, The Lion Foundation and the Trusts Community Foundation.